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Avennia

Avennia was founded on the passion to showcase Washington as a unique and compelling place for great wines. Their priority is to acquire fruit from some of the finest vineyards in Washington, and allow them to express themselves. They chose to focus on the grape varieties used in Bordeaux and the Rhone, as their similar latitude to Washington makes them a natural fit to excel here.

Timing is everything.Our winemaking partnership is built on mutual respect, complimentary skills, and a love of great wine.Our goal is to make wines that evoke clarity: clarity of place, clarity of type, clarity of purpose.We believe this is best expressed by using the classic French varietals and blends, with methods passed down over generations. We work within this context to allow Washington vineyards and terroirs to distinguish themselves. Terroir is only readily appreciable in a well-formed, harmonious wine. Structure is the backbone from which beauty can radiate.

When Marty Taucher asked Chris Peterson to review his draft winery business plan in 2009, it fortuitously coincided with Peterson’s desire to start a new chapter in his winemaking career. The conversation continued at the friendly confines of North Seattle’s Fiddlers Inn, where the vision for Avennia was born. Mutual esteem for their respective strengths and experiences allowed them to forge an effective partnership. Ultimately, they agreed on the Avennia’s core principals – a passionate commitment to signature vineyards and natural processes in the cellar - resulting in timeless, world class wines that are solely and undeniably Washington.

With the support and input from Chris’ wife Lauren Smith and Marty’s wife Colleen, Avennia was a reality. By the end of 2010, 16 tons of fruit were transformed to wine (released to much acclaim in 2012) and relationships in place with the state’s most legendary growers, enabling them to secure the best fruit in the region for future vintages. Almost a decade later, the same core principles continue to inform the direction of the winery and the business day to day.

Winery/Vineyards

Winemaker: Chris Peterson

Avennia is inspired by the Roman name for the city of Avignon, and signifies for us the heart of Old World winemaking. Inspired by the naturalist vigneron methods in the Old World, their winemaking is based on doing less in order to let the fruit speak for itself. With this approach, sourcing the finest fruit possible is paramount, they use native yeast to ferment the wines, and bottle them unfined to preserve the most complexity and expression. Blending trials are used extensively to achieve the finest texture and balance possible.Their wines are designed to tease rather than flaunt; pique interest, not beg for attention. They stand for elegance, delicacy, purity. The wines are made to enhance conversation, not dominate it, and will be a welcome guest at the table.

In the VineyardA lot of thought is put into choosing vineyard sites to match their winemaking style and preference. They choose not only the vineyard sources themselves, but down to their favorite vineyard blocks. There is an emphasis on older vines, and moderate climates, as these features tend to create wine with more depth and complexity—a balance between fruit and non-fruit characteristics. They sample the grapes frequently as harvest approaches, tasting the fruit to try and find the ideal day to harvest. Their picking philosophy is simple: pick the fruit when it is barely, yet definitively, ripe.

In the WineryTheir natural-leaning hand during harvest and fermentation results in many unique blocks of wine in the cellar. The next question is: where do they go? For them, the next critical step is finding the blends. Their approach to blending is extensive and purposeful. This means blending different varieties together of course, but it can also mean blending wines of the same variety from different blocks; wines in new oak with wines in older oak; large barrels with small barrels, or wine aged in concrete. When tasting through blends, the emphasis is on finding balance, structure, and teasing out that inimitable character that makes a wine recognizable related to past vintages, while also being unique.

The ResultFor them, the highest compliment in a wine is to be balanced and harmonious. They strive for the main elements—the bones of the wine—to be in harmony: fruit, acid, tannin, perhaps oak. The wine moves seamlessly from the front of the palate to the finish, without any of these aspects dominating the others. This is a key tenet of Old World winemaking, and perhaps the one they take most to heart. When you open your next bottle of Sestina, or Arnaut, or any Avennia wine, they hope you taste the care and attention they put into each bottle.

Gravura is our ode to the Graves AOC of Bordeaux, emphasizing a harmony of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The name is a play on an artisan printing technique, and on the Bordeaux region of Graves, which features similar blends. Featuring more Merlot and with the addition of Red Mountain fruit, this wine is designed to be more generous and voluptuous in style, while still remaining complex and balanced.

Winemaker's notes: This wine leads with ripe plum, cassis, fresh cherries and mocha, with hints of bay leaf, dried thyme, and anise. Rich and weighty on the palate, with dark fruits, chocolate and herb notes, all upon a firm structure that will reward bottle age.

2015 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 92 PTS - JD

"The entry-level Bordeaux blend is the 2015 Gravura, made from 47% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc and aged 20 months in 70% new French oak. It's the most open-knit, sexy, and voluptuous of the 2015s and has tons of ripe red and black fruits, chocolate, earth, and assorted spicy aromas and flavors. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, drink it over the coming decade."- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2018), 92 pts

2015 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 91 PTS - WE

"This wine is near equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Cabernet Franc. Coming from a who's who of vineyards, the aromas are expressive, with notes of leafy dried herb, graphite, raspberry, cherry, toast, scorched earth, dark coffee and mineral. The palate shows an assortment of sweet red- and black-fruit flavors that display an exquisite sense of balance and polish. It's a superb value with a long life ahead of it." - Wine Enthusiast (July 2018), 91 pts

2014 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 92 PTS - WA

"Another great year for this cuvee, the 2014 Gravura checks in as 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc. And while it’s the entry-level cuvee, it still spent 20 months in 50% new French oak. It's a plump, rounded, sexy red from Chris that has terrific notes of blackcurrants, leafy herbs and lead pencil. Medium to full-bodied, it shows the house style but in a more forward, early drinking, delicious style. - Jeb Dunnuck" - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #231, June 2017), 92 pts

2014 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 90 PTS - VINOUS

"(this is Avennia's entry-level Bordeaux blend): Dark red-ruby. Aromas of blackberry and licorice with a touch of spicy oak. Broad and easygoing, offering a pliant texture and inviting sweetness. Doesn't have the complexity of the more ambitious bottlings here but delivers lovely warm-year fruit with an accent of fresh herbs from the Red Willow component. Nicely structured wine with a fine dusting of tannins and no rough edges. - Stephen Tanzer"- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2016), 90 pts

2013 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 93 PTS - IWRep

"The 2013 'Gravura' follows up the highly impressive 2012 bottling of this red wine. This. Is a blend of 47% Cabernet, 44% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The blend was aged in 50% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottling. This wine begins with aromas of red cherry, red raspberry, mocha and sandalwood. There are flavors of coffee grounds, black olive, black cherry and boysenberry preserves. Lovely texture and mouthfeel, with light tannins and a long finish. This will cellar beautifully. (Best 2016-2028) - OB" - International Wine Report (October 2016), 93 pts

2013 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 92 PTS - WE

"Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot make up nearly equal parts of this blend, with the balance Cabernet Franc (9%). Coming from a who's who of vineyards that includes Bacchus, Red Willow, Klipsun and Boushey, it offers nuanced, supremely well balanced aromas of spice, dried herb, raspberry and blackberry. The palate delivers on all of this promise with succulent yet still reserved red and black fruit flavors that show purity, focus and impeccable balance that kicks it up a notch." - Wine Enthusiast (July 2016), 92 pts

2013 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 92 PTS - WA

"The estate's entry-level Bordeaux blend is the 2013 Gravura, which is 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in equal parts new and used French oak barrels. It’s deep ruby/purple color is followed by a classic notes of leafy herbs, chocolate, tobacco leaf, black currants and earth. This medium to full-bodied, rounded and downright sexy 2013 has terrific mid-palate depth, supple tannin and an already hard to resist style. Nevertheless, it should still keep for 7-8 years." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #225, June 2016), 92 pts

2012 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 92 PTS - VINOUS

"(48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc): Saturated red-ruby. Fresh aromas of black raspberry and cocoa powder are complemented by sexy earth tones. Sweet, broad and fine-grained, showing lovely energy and lift to its flavors of dark berries and dark chocolate. Really spreads out to dust the palate with fruit. Finishes classy and very long, with well-integrated ripe tannins. This was bottled a month before I tasted it but showed no sign of shock or fatigue. A steal for the price. - Stephen Tanzer"- Vinous (December 2014), 92 pts

2012 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 91 PTS - WS

"Expressive and deftly balanced, with chai tea accents to the cherry and sassafras flavors, wrapped gently in a veil of fine tannins as the finish persists. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2022. -HS"

2011 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 92 PTS - WE

"Good news for the growing legion of admirers of this young winery—production of the Gravura has more than doubled in this vintage. It’s a classy, sophisticated wine with a clear target—the style of wine made in the Graves region of Bordeaux. Done with native ferment (no inoculation), the overall harmony of tart berry/cassis fruit, minerals, bright acidity and bourbon barrel highlights is exceptional."- Wine Enthusiast (July 2014), 92 pts

2011 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 91+ PTS - VINOUS

"(63% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot and 8% cabernet franc; aged in 50% new oak): Good full, bright red. Tightly wound aromas of cassis, bitter chocolate, licorice and black peppercorn. Broad, sweet and plush, but with a solid medicinal reserve to the flavors of dark berries, dark chocolate and coffee. This intense, fully ripe blend finishes with sweet, suave yet serious tannins and excellent building length. I'd give it at least a couple years in the cellar before pulling the cork. (Incidentally, I retasted the 2010 Gravura next to this wine and found it both seamless and seriously structured--perhaps even more solid than this 2011. My most recent score for the earlier vintage was 92(+?), up from 91 in Issue 165.)v- Stephen Tanzer"- Vinous (November 2013), 91+ pts

2011 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 91 PTS - WA

"An entry-level Bordeaux-styled blend is the 2011 Gravura. A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in 50% new French oak, it offers up a supple, pure profile with plenty of black currant, lead pencil, smoke and earthy qualities flowing to a medium to full-bodied, textured and surprisingly concentrated profile on the palate. Already delicious, it will evolve gracefully for over a decade and represents a superb value. - Jeb Dunnuck" - The Wine Advocate (Issue #213, June 2014), 91 pts

"The name pays homage to the Graves region of Bordeaux, and the blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc also mimics those wines. Here the grapes are sourced from the Red Willow (Yakima Valley), Bacchus (Columbia Basin) and Klipsun (Red Mountain) vineyards. Supple, with beautifully integrated red fruits, and tannins as soft as a kiss, it’s masterful winemaking from Chris Peterson, who tended the wines of DeLille for many years."

2010 Avennia Gravura Red Blend Columbia Valley - 91 PTS - IWC

"(an homage to Graves; 54% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 6% cabernet franc): Good full red-ruby. Spicy aromas of redcurrant and tobacco leaf complicated by garrigue high notes. Juicy, complex and intense, with raspberry, cocoa powder, lead pencil and brushy earth tones that do remind me of Graves. This rather suave wine finishes with refined tannins and very good length"

"Fresh and vital, featuring a layer of chewy tannins surrounding a vibrant core of blackberry and currant fruit, narrowing to a sharp beam on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2015 through 2020. 300 cases made. -HS"